Zhang HP, Niemczura J, Dennis G, Ravi-Chandar K, Marder M. Toughening effect of strain-induced crystallites in natural rubber.
Phys Rev Lett 2009;
102:245503. [PMID:
19659026 DOI:
10.1103/physrevlett.102.245503]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2009] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
We study fracture propagation in stretched natural rubber sheets. Experimental results in specimens stretched less than 3.8 times show a monotonic increase in the crack speed with stretch and can be explained by a numerical model based on neo-Hookean theory and Kelvin dissipation. In specimens stretched more than 3.8 times, strain-induced crystallites act as reinforcing and toughening fillers and significantly increase fracture resistance, like nanostructures in other polymeric or biological materials. Consequently, as we increase the amount of stretch, fractures travel slower and slower, and eventually halt altogether.
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